Certain actor/director partnerships are so legendary that they shape both individuals’ careers: Alfred Hitchcock with Cary Grant, Martin Scorsese alongside Robert De Niro, Tim Burton with Johnny Depp, and now Emma Stone paired with Yorgos Lanthimos.
Although the Greek filmmaker had been gaining recognition prior to collaborating with Stone, having received international praise for 2009’s Dogtooth and an Oscar nod for Best Screenplay for The Lobster, it was his collaboration with Emma Stone on The Favourite that marked a significant moment. This audacious, sapphic comedy garnered 10 Oscar nominations and secured an Oscar for Olivia Colman. Their subsequent venture, Poor Things, exceeded expectations by fusing the raunchy humor of The Favourite with the eerie science fiction elements of Frankenstein. It won critical acclaim, achieved box office success, and received 11 Oscar nominations, taking home four awards, including Best Actress and Best Picture.
In spite of its explicit themes, Poor Things emerged as their most commercially successful film. They then pushed boundaries with Kinds of Kindness, a collection of disturbing vignettes about a dubious husband, an unusual sex cult, and a peculiar business arrangement. The critical reception was mixed, leading to a lack of sizable audiences. So, what lies ahead for this bold duo?
Bugonia, a remake of Jang Joon-hwan’s 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet!, appears to align with the mutual interest of Stone and Lanthimos in themes of class struggle. However, regardless of screenwriter Will Tracy’s modifications, the film surprisingly feels conservative, even as it addresses contemporary jargon and taboos.
Bugonia explores the manosphere, conspiracy theories, and class struggles.
Jesse Plemons, who starred with Stone in Kinds of Kindness, takes on the role of Teddy, a beekeeper and conspiracy theorist intent on rescuing his mother and the planet. Residing in a deteriorating family home with his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis), Teddy sees the dwindling bee populations and his mother’s coma as indicators of an alien invasion.
Teddy perceives pharmaceuticals CEO Michelle Fuller (Stone) as an extraterrestrial and persuades Don to assist in her kidnapping, hoping to parley with the leader of the invaders.
In Save the Green Planet!, the abducted CEO was male. This gender swap positions Teddy within conspiracy theories and American manosphere discourse, wherein empowered women are frequently depicted negatively. Michelle poses a threat to Teddy’s masculinity and sense of self, regardless of her actual identity.
Teddy, plagued by nightmares of his ill mother (Alicia Silverstone), harbors bitterness towards Michelle’s authority and composed presence. His decision to abduct her, shave her head, and dress her in his mother’s clothes represents victories in his mission, a means to reclaim the control he lost in his attempts to rescue his mother.
Yet Emma Stone, a two-time Academy Award recipient, isn’t cast to merely play a damsel in distress.
Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone contend in Bugonia.
Michelle remains composed and unflappable amidst Teddy and Don’s ambush and lengthy speeches. She clarifies that she is not an alien, radiating irritation but devoid of fear.
The conflict of wills takes center stage in Bugonia. Plemons, adept at portraying a variety of characters, immerses himself in the role of Teddy wholeheartedly. Michelle initially appears impeccably attired, while Teddy looks disheveled. When he dons a suit, it seems ill-fitting, portraying him as foolish. His appearance undermines his verbose ruminations about alien threats.
Stone embodies Michelle’s patience as a strategy for survival. As Teddy’s threats escalate, she transitions from coaxing to menacing.
In Kinds of Kindness, witnessing these actors confront each other was exhilarating, yet it becomes repetitive. Having viewed Save the Green Planet!, I anticipated the climax. Tracy and Lanthimos integrate gruesome twists, but they fail to elevate the experience. Despite powerful performances, humor, societal critiques, and psychological tension, Bugonia is burdened by a sense of melancholy and despair.
Bugonia is disappointing.
The production design juxtaposes decay and shine, establishing the discord between Teddy and Michelle. The yellow hues suggest festering, potentially reflecting on Teddy’s sanity or the broader world, overshadowing Michelle’s appearance. The buildup towards the final act lacks driving force.
Scenes featuring Stone and